Sanding device for locomotives



Oct 6, 1953 H. G.'FOSTER SANDING DEVICE FOR LOCOMOTIVES Filed April 24,1950 ToSandB j I 722 Source f 6 v 1/0! Fluid 4 INVENTOR Harry 6. Rslf BY4 4. 4 M

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SANDINGDEVICE FOR LOCOMOTIVES Harry G. Foster, Mullens, W. Va.

Application April 24, 1950, Serial No. 157,796

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in sanding devices forlocomotives, and more particularly to sand discharge nozzles fordirecting the sand onto the track in advance of locomotive wheels.

It is the customary practice to provide devices on locomotives fordischarging sand on the track rails in advance of the locomotive wheels,to be used in wet or freezing weather, to increase the traction of thewheels. Usually, this involves the use of a pipe through which the sandis discharged, the lower end of which pipe is open and forms a nozzlefor directing the sand on the rail in advance of the traction wheel.

Difficulty has been encountered heretofore in the accumulation of sandin the open end of the discharge pipe or nozzle, forming a bridgetherein, which not only interferes with the discharge of the sand butalso serves frequently to deflect the sand to one side or the other ofthe rail. This bridge or obstruction results from the accumulation ofmoisture in the open end of the nozzle due to the throwing of mud ormoisture into the nozzle by the rotation of the driving wheel, whichthereby causes a cake of sand to accumulate. Since the sand is neededduring conditions of wet or freezing weather, those are the sameconditions which cause the accumulation of sand in the discharge end ofthe nozzle.

It has been proposed heretofore to inject air or steam into the nozzlefor the purpose of cleaning out the accumulation or plug of sand thatoccurs therein, but, because of the impractical effect of using a blastof air or steam for this purpose and its failure to discharge theaccumulated sand from the nozzle, such proposals have not come intogeneral use. No satisfactory means has been proposed heretofore whichwould be entirely effective to remove the accumulation of sand from thenozzle.

An object of this invention is to improve sanding devices so as toprovide an effective means for removing an accumulation of sand from thenozzle in all weather conditions, and which will insure of the deliveryof the sand, when needed, directly onto the rail surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide not only for the ejectionof the sand from the nozzle, but also for the application of sufflcientheat thereto so as to prevent the caking or accumulation of sand in thenozzle, whereby it will be discharged effectively in service.

Still another object of the invention is to improve the construction ofa sand nozzle, by providing a relatively inexpensive and practicaldevice for the discharge of a jet of air or other fluid in the nozzle,to remove the clogging action of the sand, and also providing for theapplication of heat to the nozzle, not only to prevent clogging of thewet sand, but also to prevent freezing of the moisture which wouldotherwise maintain the clogged condition of the sand.

These objects may be accomplished according to certain embodiments ofthe invention, by providing for the introduction of a jet or jets of airunder high pressure into the nozzle in such position with respectthereto that the accumulated sand will be discharged therefrom. The airjet means may be attached to a conventional sand discharge pipe withoutrequiring any special construction of nozzle, and will be retainedthereby for the effective removal of the sand from the nozzle. It isalso preferred that a suitable heater be provided which will dry up themoisture that causes an accumulation of sand in the nozzle and alsoprevents freezing of the moisture, thereby allowing the jet of air totake full effect in removing the sand from the nozzle. Either hot air orsteam may be circulated through the heater from an available source onthe locomotive, which will be effective in eliminating the moisture fromthe sand.

Certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic side elevation of a portion of a locomotive,showing an application of this invention thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through one form of sandnozzle constructed according to this invention;

Fig. 3 is a cross section therethrough on the line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form of heatingmeans;

Fig. 5 is a cross section therethrough on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional vie-w, showing a further modification ofthe nozzle.

The invention is shown in Fig. 1 as applied to a locomotive traveling ona track formed by rails I, in which, however, only portions of thelocomotive are illustrated, including a driving wheel 2 thereof that isadapted to travel on the track formed by the rails I. The remainder ofthe locomotive is omitted for simplicity of illustration, but it will beunderstood that the invention is applicable to any suitable type of railor other vehicle in which it is desired to apply sand to the tractionwheels thereof. 2

The conventional sanding device employed on locomotives includes a sandpipe 3 connected at one end with a head i, which has a supply pipe 5extending thereto from the sand box carried by the locomotive or othervehicle. A service air line is designated at 6, discharging into a sideof the head 4, for forcing sand under pressure from the pipe 5 to thesand pipe 3. Air pressure may also, be introduced into 'a side of thesand pipe 3 from a high pressure air line I connected thereto, ifdesired, although the latter is not required according to thisinvention.

Connected with the opposite end of the sand pipe 3, preferably by meansof 'a flexible hose 8, is one end of a tubular nozzle 9, shown as in theform of an elongated tube extending downwardly 7 from the hose 8, withwhich it is connected, to a point directly over the rail I in front ofthe tree: tion wheel 2. The lower end of the nozzle 9 ;is open. In theconventional sanding deviceof .a locomotive, it has been the practice todischarge sand through the nozzle at desire d intervalsaccording-totrack conditions, by injecting a jet of air through the pipe} and/or thepipe "I, ;which air is under high pressure and causes sand to be forcedfrornthe supply'pipe 5, through the head 4; and the sand pipe 3into andthrough the nozzle 9, discharging directly on the rail. The rotation ofthe wheel frequently causes mud or moisture to be forced into the openend of thenozzle 9, which is in proximity to the rail, or such moisturemay be splattered into the end of the nozzle fromthe top surface of therail. In any event, it is, known that moisture does collect in the openend of the nozzle, Where it tends to cause a clogging of the sand andfrequently, forms a cake or accumulation of sand ,inthe lower portion ofthe nozzle, whichnot only interferes with the discharge of the sandfromthe nozzle but also tends to deflect the sand laterally of the rail, sothat the sand is notdirooted to its point of efiective use. It isnot'di- :.rected on the rail at all but falls beside the rail in thetrackway. V y I have provided a heater which-will applya source of heatto the nozzle at or adjacent-the discharge .end thereof, to prevent the,accumula- .,tion ;.of moisture in the nozzle and to dry outany moisturethat has accumulated therein, which therebywill releasethe cloggedconditionof the zsand and :cause it..to. be discharged. Such a heatermay be suppliedwith hot; air, steam or other suitable source of heat,,according to the .available source on the engine or vehicle, difierentforms of which ,arelshown the drawings. In theform shown-in Fig.2,,ahotair, chamber is shown at 10 surroundingthe nozzle 9.. Ihischamber I is shown asxan enlarged cylindrical chamber spaced at itsperiphery from the periphery of the pipe or nozzle 9v and-closedatopposite ends. It may be slipped over the nozzle andiis removabletherefrom, if desired. A source of hot fluid from a convenient point-onthe locomotive or other vehicle is connected with the chamber I0 througha pipe I l, the vehicle preferably having .a suitable control valvewithin convenient, reach of the engineer or operatorior regulating the 1supply Of air thereto. The chamber I I] is shown as open throughout, andthe hot fluid is discharged therefrom at theopposite side and the"opposite end, from the inlet pipe il, through one ormore orifices 12, aswill be evident fr'om Fig. 3.

The 'dischargelori'ffices l2, preferably are" 1o;

cated in the bott'omside'"'of"the' "hot" air chamber H! in position todirect the fluid downwardly onto the rail I, in close proximity thereto.This serves not only for circulating the fluid through the heatingchamber to obtain the heating effect thereof in removing the accumulatedsand, but also for applying heat directly to the top of the rail to thawany frozen condition that exists on the rail and remove ice and snowtherefrom. This obtains a double heating action of the single source ofhot hold both for removing the 'moisture from the sand and also forthawing out and re- 'moving snow and ice from the rail.

. Provisionismade also in this device for forcing out the accumulatedsand by a jet or jets of fluid injected directly into the nozzle 9 atintervals under the control of 'the engineer or oper'ator. 'An opening13 is formed m the top of the nozzle 9, shown as an elongated slot,within which opening or slot I3 a head id is inserted andweldedorotherwise secured rigidly to the nozzlejg. The'head l4 has'areduced lower poru-ofn that fitsdirectly in the slot 1-3, while theloutrfportion"thereof sits or is fitted directly-upon -th'ep'eri'pheryof the nozzle.

one or more orifices l5 are formed in thei'riner fs'ide'ofthehead l'flto direct 'fluid into'thedischarge "and of the nozzle 9 from a holdsupply jtube l'fi that is connected with the head 14. The "fluid'sup'plytube I6 leads to asuitable'sour'ce of fluid underhigh'pressure,and may be co nnectedwith thetube I referred to above. In using'thetracksander"according t'o this invention, when thepperator or "engineer'encounters a slippery condition on the ra'ils, it' is necessary merelyfor him 'to "manipulate -the fc ontfrolvalve to supply airto the tubes 6and 7, This 'willfinjeetfa desired quantity ofsand lifijo m the supplypipe "'5 "into the sand -pipe 3, thence tothe-nozzle "9for'dischargeonto the 40"rail l inadvanceof the drivingwheel 2. Simul-'taneouslyfair' is directed under; pressure through 'the 'tube I 6" andhead 14 into the open end-of 'theiioz'zle' 9,' 'aswi1lbe' evident fromFig. 2. "This "air dischargedfrom theorifice or orifices i5 will causea;complete discharge of'the sand against any accumulation in the open endof the-nozzle. When 'a'slippery condition'is encountered'on thefjtr'a ckithe operator may open the valveto "the'ifluidsupply tubeor pipe lltosupplyhot eofjair or" other fluid "continuously through "this tipstothefl'ieating'cha'jmber "It; so as to'inaintain' a sufficientlyfheatedcondition in the discharge' end'lofftheno'zzle 3 that any moisture vwh1chmaybe'thrown into the open end'offthe no'zz le by the'rotation ofthe wheel 2'wi11=be 1 vaporized andpre'vent the accumulation'of sand f;ereby, ,This willkeep the end of "the nozzle open and I free forftl'iedischarge of sand, as

desired. The hot fluid befdi rcted downward through the openings 1Zfdir'ectly "onto the rail, tending tounelt'onre'inove any "snow or Iice 1 that i nayac'cum late on the" raiIjas well as -to vaporiz e anymp1s re t'hatfocours thereon,

when; the'heatingchamber e is notreddiid, it may be removedeasilyffromthe nozzle" Sby slipping it; off V thefend' of the; nozzle," separating6f, the "device, Thi heating chamber may be Fig. 4, surrounding thedischarge end of the nozzle 9a. The coil 20 is connected through a pipe2| with a suitable source of hot fluid that is available on thelocomotive, and which will be circulated through the coil for heatingthe nozzle to prevent the accumulation of moisture therein. This coil isshown as surrounding the head 14a through which a jet or jets of air maybe injected into the nozzle to direct the sand therefrom. The lower endof the coil 20 is directed downwardly onto the rail for discharging thehot fluid onto the rail, to thaw any ice or snow accumulating thereon.This coil is shown as enclosed in a housing 22 that surrounds the nozzle9a, although the housing may be omitted, if desired.

A further modification is shown in Fig. 6, in which the nozzle 92) isshown as provided with a projecting lip 23 forming a hood over the openend thereof to prevent the entrance of rain, snow or other moisture fromgaining access into the nozzle. Such a hood may be applied to either ofthe nozzles shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

While I have illustrated and described certain embodiments of theinvention, it is recognized that other variations and changes may bemade therein without departing from the invention, except as set forthin the claims.

I claim:

1. A track sanding device comprising a nozzle having an elongatedtubular body and having an elongated longitudinally extending slotformed therein intermediate its ends, an elongated head mounted on saidnozzle with a portion thereof extending into said slot and having one ormore orifices formed therein and communicating with the interior of saidnozzle, a fluid conduit connected with one end of said head forinjecting a fluid under pressure into said nozzle to dischargeaccumulated matter therefrom, an enlarged elongated cylindrical heatercasing mounted on said nozzle and surrounding at least a portion of saidnozzle and said head, the peripheries of said nozzle and said casingbeing spaced from each other and being in substantially coaxialalignment with respect to one another to form a heating chambertherebetween, means connecting said heating chamber with a source ofheated pressure fluid for circulating said fluid around said nozzle inheat exchange relation therewith, and said casing having an apertureformed therein adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle and in positionto discharge said heated pressure fluid onto the adjacent track rail.

2. A track sanding device comprising a nozzle having a tubular body andhaving a longitudinally extending slot formed therein intermediate itsends, a head mounted on said nozzle with a portion thereof extendinginto said slot and having one or more orifices formed therein andcommunicating with the interior of said nozzle, a fluid conduitconnected with one end of said head for injecting a fluid under pressureinto said nozzle to discharge accumulated matter therefrom, an enlargedcylindrical heater casing mounted on said nozzle and surrounding atleast a portion of said nozzle and said head, the peripheries of saidnozzle and said casing being spaced from each other to form a heatingchamber therebetween, means connecting said heating chamber with asource of heated pressure fluid for circulating said fluid around saidnozzle in heat exchange relation therewith, and said casing having anaperture formed therein 6 adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle andin position to discharge said heated pressure fluid onto the adjacenttrack rail.

3. A track sanding device comprising a nozzle having an elongatedtubular body and having an elongated longitudinally extending slotformed therein intermediate its ends, said tubular body having asubstantially semi-circular hood formed on the discharge end of saidnozzle, said hood projecting outwardly from said discharge end of saidnozzle at the top thereof and being contained in the curvilinear planeof said nozzle to protect the discharge end of said nozzle against theentrance of moisture thereto, an elongated head mounted on said nozzlewith a portion thereof extending into said slot and having one or moreorifices formed therein and communicating with the interior of saidnozzle, a fluid conduit connected with one end of said head forinjecting a fluid under pressure into said nozzle to dischargeaccumulated matter therefrom, an enlarged elongated cylindrical heatercasing mounted on said nozzle and surrounding at least a portion of saidnozzle and said head, the peripheries of said nozzle and said casingbeing spaced from each other and being in substantially coaxialalignment with respect to one another to form a heating chambertherebetween, means connecting said heating chamber with a source ofheated pressure fluid for circulating said fluid around said nozzle inheat exchange relation therewith, and said casing having an apertureformed therein adjacent the discharge end of said nozzle and in positionto discharge said heated pressure fluid onto the adjacent track rail.

4. A track sanding device comprising a nozzle having an elongatedtubular body and having a longitudinally extending slot formed thereinintermediate its ends, a head mounted on said nozzle with a portionthereof extending into said slot and having one or more orifices formedtherein and communicating with the interior of said nozzle, a fluidconduit connected with one end of said head for injecting a fluid underpressure into said nozzle to discharge accumulated material therefrom,an elongated cylindrical heater casing detachably mounted on said nozzleand surrounding at least a portion of said nozzle and said head, theperipheries of said nozzle and said casing being spaced from each otherand, being in substantially coaxial alignment with re-. spect to oneanother to form a heating chamber therebetween, means connecting saidheating chamber with a source of heated pressure fluid; for circulatingsaid fluid around said nozzle in. heat exchange relation therewith, andsaid casing having an aperture formed therein adjacent the discharge endof said nozzle and in position to discharge said heated pressure fluidonto the adjacent track rail.

5. A track sanding device comprising a nozzle having an elongatedtubular body and having an elongated longitudinally extending slotformed therein intermediate its ends, an elongated head mounted on saidnozzle with a portion thereof extending into said slot and having one ormore orifices therein and communicating with the interior of saidnozzle, a fluid conduit connected with one end of said head forinjecting a fluid under pressure into said nozzle to dischargeaccumulated matter therefrom, a helical heating coil surrounding atleast a portion of said head and said nozzle, one end of said heatingcoil being connected with a source of heated fluid, an enlargedcylindrical heater casing mounted on said nozzle, the peripheries ofsaid nozzle and said casing being spaced from each other to form aheating chamber therebetween, means connecting said heating chamber witha source of heated pressure fluid for circulating said fluid around saidnozzle in heat exchange relation therewith, said casing having anaperture formed therein adjacent. the discharge end of said nozzle, saidheating coil having its discharge end extended through said aperture.

6. A sanding device for railway vehicles comprising a sand discharge.pipe. having an open discharge end, means for directing an air jet intosaid open end. at: a point adjacent; thereto to eject sand therefrom,said; air jet means having the inner end thereof substantially at thesurrounding wall. of the pipe, and a, heating element coiled aroundsaid: open end portion of the pipe for preventing the accumulation ofice-therein.

7. A track. sanding, device. comprising a nozzle having an. elongated;tubular. body and having an elongated longitudinally extending slotformed therein adjacent the discharge end thereof, air jet. meansincluding anelongated head mounted on said nozzle, with a portionthereof extending in said slot and having one or more orificesformed-therein and communicating with the interior of said; nozzle,anenlargedelongated cylindrical heater casing mounted; on saidnozzle inheat exchange relation therewith and with said head, and means forsupplying a heated fluid to said, casing.

8. A track. sanding device comprising a nozzle having anelongatedtubular-body provided with an elongated longitudinallyextendingslot formed therein adjacent the discharge; end: thereof, airjet meansincluding an elongated head mounted on said nozzle with a.portion. thereof extending into said slot; and; having one or moreorifices therein communicating with the interiorof said nozzle,coiledheating means surrounding at least a portion of said head and saidnozzle and in heat exchange relation therewith, an enlarged cylindricalheater casing-mounted on saidnozzle and surrounding saidcoiledheatingmeans anda portion of said nozzle, and means for supplying aheated fluid to said; casing.

9. A-sanding; device-for railway vehicles comprisingasand-discharge pipehavingan open discharge end, said: pipe having an opening in a sidethereof in close proximity tosaid, opendis.- charge end,.a.headconnectedwith the opening andterminating substantially at the. periphery. of thesand dischargepipe without projection-into the pipe in .the; path; ofsand therethrough, heating means 1 surrounding the sand discharge pipein heat exchange relation therewith adjacent said '8 open end, and meansfor supplying air under pressure to the head and discharging the airthrough the. head into the pipe.

10. A track sanding device comprising a nozzle having an elongatedtubular body and having an elongated slot in the surrounding: wallthereof extending longitudinally of the body and formed therein adjacentthe discharge end thereof, and an air jet head mounted on the nozzle andhaving an elongated portion thereof extending in the slot with an innerwall substantially at the surrounding Wall of the body, said inner wallof the elongated portion having a plurality of orifices in the innerside thereof opening into the tubular body and spaced lengthwise of saidhead.

11. A track sanding device comprising a nozzle having an. elongatedtubular body with a surrounding wall, said surrounding wall having anopening in the side thereof adjacent the-discharge end thereof, anair-jet head having an. enclosed chamber, means mounting the head on.thebody with a portion thereof extending in the opening and terminatingsubstantially at the inner face of the surrounding wall Withoutprojecting into the interior of the body, said head having a pluralityof orifices in said inner portion thereof arranged to direct fluid fromthe head into different longitudinally spaced portions of the nozzle todischarge sand therefrom, and means connected with the head forsupplying fluid under pressure thereto.

HARRY FOSTER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date Re. 11,845 Hanlon Aug. 14, 1900 Re. 20,905 Swan Nov. 1, 1938633,193- Hanlon Sept. 19, 1899 692,253 Dodge Feb. 4, 1902 967,309Beattie Aug. 10, 1910 976,304 Ryan Nov. 22, 1910 1,204,665 Jones et alNov. 14, 1916 1,295,353 Morreale et al. Jan. 21, 1919 1,421,745 TaylorJuly 4, 1922 1,528,552 Johns Mar. 3, 1925 1,789,600 Schoop Jan. 20,19311,850,795 Hoffman Mar. 22, 1932 2,371,274 Weigold Mar, 13,1945

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,141 Great Britain May 20, 1893 of1892 9,885 Great Britain Jan. 15, 1914 of 19.13

